The Gwinnett Gladitors broke open a 2-2 tie scoring 4 goals in the 3rd period amid undisciplined hockey by the Sea Wolves. Mississippi, now 1-4 on the season, failed to convert on 6 power play opportunities while allowing the Gladitors to score half of their 6 tallies on the man advantage.

Marek Kvapil was missing from the lineup for the second consecutive game.

Radek Smolenak finally broke the scoresheet for Lightning prospects as his point shot on the power play was banged home by Travis Lisabeth. Mississippi had started the season 0-for-15 on the power play. The Sea Wolves would ultimately earn their first victory of the 2007-2008 season with a 4-3 shootout win over the visiting Pensacola Ice Pilots. Zbynek Hrdel was held off the score sheet for the second consecutive game, while Marek Kvapil was apparent scratch for the contest. Neither Smolenak nor Hrdel was used by Mississippi head coach Steffon Walby during the shootout, with Travis Lisabeth finally converting as Walby's sixth shooter.

The Reading Royals played spoiler to the return of hockey to the Gulf Coast after a two-year hiatus following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Royals peppered former Lightning prospect Morgan Cey with 44 shots enroute to a decisive 5-2 victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Lightning prospects have been held off the scoresheet in the Wolves' first three games

Ex-Lightning prospect Morgan Cey allows 4 goals on 26 shots, although 3 of FLA's goals came on the power play. For the two game series, 6 of the Blade's 10 goals came on the man advantage, and another came short-handed.

Today, Norfolk Admirals General Manager Claude Loiselle announced that defensemen Brett Angel and Jay Rosehill and left wings Brandon Elliott and Radek Smolenak have been assigned to the Mississippi Sea Wolves (ECHL).

Rosehill, 6â€™4â€ and 215 pounds, appeared in three games for the Admirals going scoreless with 11 penalty minutes. Smolenak, 6â€™3â€ and 180 pounds, appeared in two games for the Admirals going scoreless with two penalty minutes. Smolenak was the Lightning's top forward in Traverse City, Michigan during the September prospects tournament, drawing praise from Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster, among others. Angel, 6â€™6â€ and 229 pounds, and Elliot, 6â€™4â€ and 225 pounds, had not appeared in a game with Norfolk. The Sea Wolves kick off their 2007-08 season on Friday when they visit the Florida Everblades.

As readers of this site know, we typically release our annual Preliminary Rankings of the Lightning's prospects around the first week of October once Lightning camp breaks. Obviously we haven't done that yet, so I just wanted to give everyone an update on where we are.

Crisdotero also blogged some quotes from Lightning GM Jay Feaster today regarding the play of the team's prospects at the Traverse City tournament.

Feaster expresses disappointment at the play of goaltender Riku Helenius, citing the year he lost last season to a shoulder injury as the reason and calls Andy Rogers' tournament a mixed bag.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Feaster raves about the play of forward Radek Smolenak and admits several organizations expressed praise for Smolenak's play and lauds defenseman Mike Lundin's strong play in the tournament.

Bolt Prospects will have more on the Lightning organization's reaction to the Traverse City tournament later this week.